The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Lobbying Organisation The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Date published 19 May, 2023

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area EU Affairs

Period 1 Jan, 2023 to 30 Apr, 2023

Specific Details Nitrates Action Programme 2023 Review

Intended results To seek a meeting with the members of the political parties on the implications of the mid-term review of the Nitrates Action programme agreed with the European Commission. 1. The IFA insist that the Minister must revisit this with the European Commission as this would mean that Ireland would default to a maximum limit under the derogation to 220kg/N/ha down from 250kg/N/ha. 2. This interim review will only be based on comparing water quality between 2021 and 2022. This is flawed since measures coming into place in 2022 and 2023 will NOT have had a chance to improve water quality. 3. The reduction in the nitrate's derogation to 220kg N/ha would have a significant economic impact and could potentially remove €236 million from the rural economy. 4. The prospect of reducing the maximum stocking rate to 220kgN/ha is already having knock-on consequences for all farming sectors. It is increasing the demand for land and is leading to a significant increase in land rental prices. This is having a disproportionate impact on the more financially vulnerable sectors. IFA estimate that an additional 69,000 acres will be required to sustain existing herd sizes on farms. 5. There is no guarantee that a reduction in the maximum stocking to 220kgN/ha will improve water quality. Farmers will continue to adopt measures that protect water quality but this must be based on the right measures, in the right place at the right time principle that have been shown to deliver improvements in water quality, not a blanket regulatory approach. 6. 6. Ireland's grass based system is different to most other indoor production systems across Europe. This is a strong justification for Ireland having a Nitrates Derogation.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Tim Cullinan IFA President, Damian McDonald IFA Director General, Paul O'Brien IFA Environment Chair, Stephen Arthur IFA Dairy Chair, Tadhg Buckley IFA Director of Policy, Aine O'Connell IFA Dairy Policy Executive, Geraldine O'Sullivan IFA Policy Executive - Environment, Áine O'Connell IFA Policy Executive - Dairy, Liam McHale IFA Director of European Affairs

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Mass communications

Email All TDs

Email All Senators

Submission All TDs

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Submission (1)

Meeting (11-20)

Phone call (11-20)

Social Media (21-30)

Event / Reception (2-5)

Email (21-30)

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Aindrias Moynihan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Alan Dillon TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Anne Rabbitte TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Barry Andrews MEP (European Parliament)

Billy Kelleher MEP (European Parliament)

Brendan Smith TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Brian Leddin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Brian Stanley TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Cathal Berry TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Cathal Crowe TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Catherine Connolly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Chris MacManus MEP (European Parliament)

Christopher O'Sullivan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Ciaran Cannon TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Ciarán Cuffe MEP (European Parliament)

Clare Daly MEP (European Parliament)

Colm Burke TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Colm Markey MEP (European Parliament)

Danny Owens Councillor (Offaly County Council)

Dara Calleary Minister of State (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)

Darragh O'Brien Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

Darren O'Rourke TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

David Cullinane TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

David Stanton TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Deirdre Clune MEP (European Parliament)

Denis Naughten TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Éamon Ó Cuív TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Eugene Murphy Senator (Seanad)

Fiona Lawless Director of Services or Equivalent (Meath County Council)

Fiona O'Loughlin Senator (Seanad)

Frances Fitzgerald MEP (European Parliament)

Frank Feighan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Garret Ahearn Senator (Seanad)

Garrett Ahern Senator (Seanad)

Grace O'Sullivan MEP (European Parliament)

Heather Humphreys Minister (Department of Rural and Community Development)

Hildegarde Naughton TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Holly Cairns TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jackie Cahill TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

James Browne TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

James Lawless TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

James O'Connor TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Joe Carey TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Joe Flaherty TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Joe O'Reilly Senator (Seanad)

John Cummins Senator (Seanad)

John McGahon Senator (Seanad)

John McGuinness TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Kieran O'Donnell TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Leo Varadkar Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)

Lisa Chambers Senator (Seanad)

Luke Ming Flanagan MEP (European Parliament)

Mairéad Farrell TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Malcolm Noonan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Maria Walsh MEP (European Parliament)

Marian Harkin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Martin Browne TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Martin Conway Senator (Seanad)

Martin Heydon Minister of State (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Mary Butler TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Matt Carthy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Matt Shanahan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Mattie McGrath TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Maurice Quinlivan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Creed TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Fitzmaurice TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Lowry TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael McNamara TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Ring TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Micheál Carrigy Senator (Seanad)

Mick Wallace MEP (European Parliament)

Niall Collins TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Niamh Smyth TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Noel Grealish TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Ollie Crowe Senator (Seanad)

Paddy Burke Senator (Seanad)

Patricia Ryan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Patrick O'Donovan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Paul Daly Senator (Seanad)

Paul Kehoe TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Paul Murphy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Pauline O'Reilly Senator (Seanad)

Peter Burke TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Philip O'Callaghan Special Adviser (Department of the Taoiseach)

Regina Doherty Senator (Seanad)

Richard O'Donoghue TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Robbie Gallagher Senator (Seanad)

Robert Troy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Róisín Garvey Senator (Seanad)

Rose Conway-Walsh TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Seán Canney TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Sean Fleming Minister of State (Department of Finance)

Sean Kelly MEP (European Parliament)

Seán Kyne Senator (Seanad)

Seán Sherlock TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Simon Coveney TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Sorca Clarke TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Tim Lombard Senator (Seanad)

Timmy Dooley Senator (Seanad)

Verona Murphy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Violet Anne Wynne TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Willie O'Dea TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Brendan Gleeson Secretary General (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Patrick Donohoe Special Adviser (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)